WRAP Security ahead of Ramadan prayers ADDS Friday prayers
(26 Sep 2008) SHOTLIST Jerusalem 1. Wide of Dome of the Rock 2. Pan from Old Jerusalem Walls to the Dome of the Rock 3. Palestinians arriving at mosque compound for Friday prayers, Dome of the Rock in background 4. Various of Palestinian women in mosque compound 5. Wide of people gathered in front of Dome of the Rock 6. Various of people gathered in mosque compound 7. Women praying 8. Close up of reflection of crowd and Dome of the Rock in man's sunglasses 9. Pan of men praying 10. Various of prayer Qalandiya crossing, between Ramallah and Jerusalem 11. Pan from Palestinians queueing behind Israeli soldiers and border policemen to more soldiers at crossing 12. Border policeman standing with megaphone on barrier next to watch tower 13. Palestinian women walking inside crossing area 14. Israeli soldiers behind a barrier 15. Israeli soldier checking identification of Palestinian women 16. Policeman directing people at crossing through megaphone A-ram checkpoint, between Ramallah and Jerusalem 17. Zoom out of checkpoint 18. Various of Israeli soldier checking cars at checkpoint Rachel's tomb crossing, between Bethlehem and Jerusalem 19. Palestinian men crowded behind barrier 20. Israeli soldier checking ID of Palestinian man 21. Soldier yelling at Palestinian men queueing behind the barrier 22. Israeli soldier inside post 23. Wide of Israeli soldier arguing with Palestinian woman who is trying to push her child over the fence 24. Soldier leading man with walking cane ahead of queue 25. Wide of Palestinians packed at crossing STORYLINE: Around 190-thousand Palestinians attended prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on the last Friday in the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan, Israeli police said. Police had heightened security in and around the city ahead of the prayer and access to the compound was restricted. Israeli rescue services also raised their level of alert, to one level down from highest. Hundreds of Palestinians wanted to enter Jerusalem from the West Bank in time for the prayer. In Qalandiya crossing, between Ramallah and Jerusalem, Palestinians were queueing behind Israeli soldiers and border policemen, while Israeli soldiers were checking IDs of the gathered crowd in A-ram, another checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem. There was brief tension at the checkpoint of Rachel's tomb, between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian men waiting to enter the city. Many worshippers were turned back. Jerusalem remains a highly charged emotional issue for both Israelis and Palestinians, who both claim parts of East Jerusalem as central to their national and spiritual identities. The site has been a flashpoint for Israeli-Arab conflict in the past. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, the month in which the Muslims believe that the Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed. It is a month of fasting for the Muslims during which they are not allowed to eat or drink before sunset, every day, honouring God. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
